Twilight Zone in St. Thomas
Mesophotic reefs maybe most developed and extensive in Caribbean
virginvoices.com staff
Scientists from the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies at the University of the Virgin Islands recently discovered huge tracts of light-dependent coral reefs between 100 and 350 feet depths. They are located south of St. Thomas and St. John in an area known as the southeastern Puerto Rican Shelf.
These types of reefs, known as mesophotic coral ecosystem, have recently captured the attention of scientists, conservationists, and governments, world wide, although their existence has been well known to fishermen and divers.
Mesophotic coral reefs are some of the least studied and most poorly understood light dependant coral habitats. They form in deep, dimly lit waters around the globe in what has been called the “Twilight Zone”.
The reefs in the U.S. Virgin Islands may constitute some of the most extensive and best-developed mesophotic reefs in the Caribbean and, possibly, the world.
These deep reefs possess a variety of previously unknown habitat types and are critical for commercial grouper and snapper spawning aggregations.
The Virgin Islands study, led by Drs. Tyler Smith and Richard Nemeth of the Center for Marine and Environmental studies, used closed circuit rebreathers and mixed gases to explore the ocean floor.
Recent sea floor mapping efforts by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration using ships and specially outfitted airplanes revealed the extent and structure of these systems in the Virgin Islands.
The significance of this discovery and the well-developed infrastructure for conducting deep oceanographic studies by CMES in the Virgil Islands will have an impact on national research.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Caribbean, Caribbean Fishery Management Council and National Ocean Sciences provided funding for the study. Lana Vento Charitable Trust provided local funding.
For more information contact Dr. Tyler B. Smith tsmith@uvi.edu at 340- 693-1394.
Photo of mesophotic reef in Puerto Rico courtesymesophotic.org
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